Elias hooked an arm under the old man and heaved, muscles screaming as he lifted him onto the deck. The man collapsed, coughing, but alive. Elias hauled himself up after, collapsing beside them, chest heaving. The air tasted sharp and cold.
Edwin clung to the side rail, shaking uncontrollably. For a long time, there were no words, only the sound of the sea, calm again, as though it hadn’t nearly claimed them. Elias closed his eyes and let the world steady itself around him. They had made it, but barely.